Product Description

An illuminating road trip through the history, life, and attractions of one of the most beautiful countries in the southern hemisphere
The beauty and grandeur of New Zealand has captured the imagination of movie-goers over the past couple of years, and the country is a dream destination for many around the world. Straying from the Flock is an intimate and personal account of one passionate traveler's visit to this incredible country, its mountains and beaches, fjords, rainforests, vineyards, and hidden eateries. Each of the fifty chapters describes one day in his travels-fishing, flying, cattle herding, befriending locals at every turn. Filled with colorful stories and memorable personalities, the book not only describes the trip of a lifetime, but captures a life-altering experience for its writer. From mountains and rainforests to cities and beaches, Straying from the Flock is both a moving memoir and personal travel guide to this amazing country.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #153359 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-25
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Download Description
"An illuminating road trip through the history, life, and attractions of one of the most beautiful countries in the southern hemisphere
The beauty and grandeur of New Zealand has captured the imagination of movie-goers over the past couple of years, and the country is a dream destination for many around the world. Straying from the Flock is an intimate and personal account of one passionate traveler's visit to this incredible country, its mountains and beaches, fjords, rainforests, vineyards, and hidden eateries. Each of the fifty chapters describes one day in his travels-fishing, flying, cattle herding, befriending locals at every turn. Filled with colorful stories and memorable personalities, the book not only describes the trip of a lifetime, but captures a life-altering experience for its writer. From mountains and rainforests to cities and beaches, Straying from the Flock is both a moving memoir and personal travel guide to this amazing country."

From the Back Cover
Straying from the Flock

The beauty and grandeur of New Zealand have captured the imagination of countless people—making it a dream destination for many around the world.

In Straying from the Flock, Dr. Alexander Elder offers an intimate and personal account of his visit to this incredible country—elegantly detailing its mountains and beaches, fjords and rainforests, vineyards, and hidden eateries.

Filled with colorful stories and memorable personalities, each chapter of this book describes one day in the life of this passionate traveler, as he experiences the history, culture, and attractions of one of the most beautiful countries in the Southern Hemisphere.

Both a moving memoir and personal travel guide to this amazing country, Straying from the Flock offers an inspiring look at the trip of a lifetime.

About the Author
DR. ALEXANDER ELDER is a professional trader, an expert in technical analysis, and a practicing psychiatrist. He is the founder of Financial Trading Inc., a firm that provides intensive training camps for traders worldwide. His two previous books went on to become international bestsellers: Trading for a Living (Wiley) was translated into nine languages, and Come Into My Trading Room (Wiley) was named a 2003 Book of the Year by Barron's. To see Dr. Elder's snapshots from his New Zealand journey please visit www.elder.com/nz.

Customer Reviews

A Magic Journey
I wish my armchair grew wings and flew me to New Zealand, with the book's author as an engaging, enchanting guide! I followed his journey across that country and was transported into landscapes and homes he so vividly described.

Just so-so
I'm off to NZ in a few weeks and was excited by the other reviews of this book. It sounded like a magical tour through a magical land. And while the stories were somewhat compelling, I found myself constantly waiting for something deeper, more profound, more passionate. The descriptions and especially the emotions in the writing were very superficial. Eventually I got tired of reading about all the wine and food and put the book down. Each day is it's own 2-4 page chapter which leaves the book with an unsettled feeling. Yes, I appreciated getting to know a little about a lot of things. But all in all, I thought the book was flat.

Kindle your Wanderlust!

This is a wonderful travel narrative: entertaining, informative, fun. As I eagerly turned pages, I felt I was taking a "virtual trip" to NZ (both North and South islands), and one that provided me a sense of familiarity when I made an actual trip there in March 2008. Dr. Elder shares his quirky observations about the people, "straying from the flock" alternative lodgings like homestays and farmstays, the country's history, the local food and wine, and some key destinations on both islands. His highlights of places to see -- like Auckland, Queenstown, Rotorua -- and activities unique to each guided me in planning my own itinerary. The only aspect of the book that proved somewhat "dated" was the reported cost of everything. Clearly, when Dr. Elder made his trip, the exchange rate was much more favorable to the US$ than it is has become in the last year or so. (For example, when he paid NZ$100 for something, it cost him less than US$50. That would translate into about US$80 in today's market.)
In summary, for anyone contemplating a trip to NZ, or just curious about this faraway land, I recommend this book as an essential part of your research and planning.